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Sources for “Deconstructing Three Pro-Choice Myths”

February 29, 2020/0 Comments/in Uncategorized /by Monica Snyder

Today Oregon Right to Life is hosting the “Together We Advocate” Conference, the largest pro-life conference in the Pacific northwest. Monica Snyder, SPL co-leader, will be giving a slightly updated version of her presentation “Deconstructing Three Pro-Choice Myths,” including where those myths come from and the research that undermines the myths’ claims. Here are the sources used to create the presentation.

Myth #1:
We don’t know when human life begins.
Articles:
  • “When Does Life Begin? It’s Not So Simple.”
    Elissa Strauss, Slate, 4/4/2017
  • “Republicans Need to Be Countered on False Claims About
    Embryos
    ,” Scott F. Gilbert, Huffington Post, 9/23/2015
  • “Bill Nye: Can We Stop Telling Women What to Do With Their Bodies?”
    Big Think, 9/22/2015
  • “Marco Rubio demanded people look at the science on
    abortion. So we did.
    ” Philip Bump, The Washington Post,
    5/15/2014
  • “When Does a Human Life Begin? 17 Timepoints,”
    Ricki Lewis, DNA Science Blog, 10/3/2013
Biology
and embryology textbooks and relevant quotes:
  • Scott Gilbert,
    Developmental Biology, 11
    th Edition. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer
    Associates, 2016: “Fertilization accomplishes two separate ends: sex (the
    combining of genes derived from two parents) and reproduction (the
    generation of a new organism).”
  • T.W. Sadler,
    Langman’s Medical Embryology, 10th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott
    Williams & Wilkins, 2006:”Development begins with fertilization,
    the process by which the male gamete, the sperm, and the female gamete,
    the oocyte, unite to give rise to a zygote.”
  • Erich
    Blechschmidt, Brian Freeman, The Ontogenetic Basis of Human Anatomy: The
    Biodynamic Approach to Development from Conception to Adulthood, North
    Atlantic Books, June 2004: “We talk of human development not because
    a jumble of cells, which is perhaps initially atypical, gradually turns
    more and more into a human, but rather because the human being develops
    from a uniquely human cell. There is no state in human development prior
    to which one could claim that a being exists with not-yet-human
    individuality. On the basis of anatomical studies, we know today that no
    developmental phase exists that constitutes a transition from the
    not-yet-human to the human.” & “In short, a fertilized egg
    (conceptus) is already a human being.”
  • Keith L. Moore,
    The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology, 7th edition.
    Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2003: “Human development begins at
    fertilization, the process during which a male gamete or sperm
    (spermatozoon development) unites with a female gamete or oocyte (ovum) to
    form a single cell called a zygote. This highly specialized, totipotent
    cell marked the beginning of each of us as a unique individual.” And
    “A zygote is the beginning of a new human being (i.e., an
    embryo).”
  • Scott Gilbert,
    Developmental Biology, 6th Edition. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates,
    2001:“When we consider a dog, for instance, we usually picture an adult.
    But the dog is a “dog” from the moment of fertilization of a dog egg by a
    dog sperm. It remains a dog even as a senescent dying hound. Therefore,
    the dog is actually the entire life cycle of the animal, from
    fertilization through death.”
  • Ronan R.
    O’Rahilly and Fabiola Müller, Human Embryology & Teratology, 3rd
    Edition, New York: Wiley-Liss, 2001: “Although life is a continuous
    process, fertilization is a critical landmark because, under ordinary
    circumstances, a new genetically distinct human organism is formed when
    the chromosomes of the male and female pronuclei blend in the
    oocyte.”
  • Ida G. Dox, B.
    John Melloni, Gilbert Eisner, The HarperCollins Illustrated Medical
    Dictionary, 2001: “An Embryo is an organism in the earliest stages of
    development.”
  • Human
    Embryology, William J Larsen, 3rd Edition, 2001: “In this text, we begin
    our description of the developing human with the formation and
    differentiation of the male and female sex cells or gametes, which will
    unite at fertilization to initiate the embryonic development of a new
    individual.”
  • William J.
    Larsen, Essentials of Human Embryology. New York: Churchill Livingstone,
    1998: “Human embryos begin development following the fusion of
    definitive male and female gametes during fertilization… This moment of
    zygote formation may be taken as the beginning or zero time point of embryonic
    development.”
  • Bruce M.
    Carlson, Patten’s Foundations of Embryology. 6th edition. New York:
    McGraw-Hill, 1996: “Almost all higher animals start their lives from
    a single cell, the fertilized ovum (zygote)… The time of fertilization
    represents the starting point in the life history, or ontogeny, of the
    individual.”
  • Keith L. Moore
    and T.V.N. Persaud. Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology and Birth
    Defects. 4th edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 1993:
    “Zygote. This cell, formed by the union of an ovum and a sperm (Gr.
    zyg tos, yoked together), represents the beginning of a human being. The
    common expression ‘fertilized ovum’ refers to the zygote.”
  • Clark Edward
    Corliss, Patten’s Human Embryology: Elements of Clinical Development. New
    York: McGraw Hill, 1976. “It is the penetration of the ovum by a
    spermatozoan and resultant mingling of the nuclear material each brings to
    the union that constitutes the culmination of the process of fertilization
    and marks the initiation of the life of a new individual.”
  • E.L. Potter and
    J.M. Craig, Pathology of the Fetus and the Infant, 3rd edition. Chicago:
    Year Book Medical Publishers, 1975: “Every time a sperm cell and ovum
    unite a new being is created which is alive and will continue to live
    unless its death is brought about by some specific condition.”
  • J.P. Greenhill
    and E.A. Friedman, Biological Principles and Modern Practice of
    Obstetrics. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 1974: “The term conception
    refers to the union of the male and female pronuclear elements of
    procreation from which a new living being develops. It is synonymous with
    the terms fecundation, impregnation, and fertilization.”
  • Leslie Brainerd
    Arey, Developmental Anatomy, 7
    th Edition. Philadelphia: Saunders,
    1974: “The formation, maturation and meeting of a male and female sex cell
    are all preliminary to their actual union into a combined cell, or zygote,
    which definitely marks the beginning of a new individual. The penetration
    of the ovum by the spermatozoon, and the coming together and pooling of
    their respective nuclei, constitutes the process of fertilization.”

“Biologists’ Consensus on ‘When Life Begins’,” Steven Andrew Jacobs, Social Science Research Network, July 25 2018

Relevant
Secular Pro-Life posts:
  • “Even very pro-choice biologists acknowledge a human life begins at fertilization.” 2/26/2020
  • “When we say ‘heartbeat,’ we don’t mean ‘fetal pole cardiac activity.’ We mean ‘heartbeat.’” 6/4/2019
  • “Pro-choice embryologist contradicts his own biology
    textbook.
    ” 8/31/2018
  • “Slate hits peak science denial in article on ‘mystery’
    of prenatal life.
    ” 4/5/2017
  • “Biology textbook writer claims we need emotion to
    answer ‘When does human life begin?’
    ” 3/23/2016
  • “Embryologist Moonlights as Philosopher. SPL calls BS.” 3/16/2016
  • “Dear Bill Nye: Where’s the science, guy?” 9/26/2015
Myth #2:
Most or all late-term abortions are medically necessary.
Articles:
  • “The agony of ending a wanted late-term pregnancy: three
    women speak out.
    ” Natalia Megas, The Guardian, 4/18/2017
  • “I had an abortion to save my baby from pain. In my
    state, that didn’t matter.
    ” Robin Uts, The Washington Post,
    3/10/2017
  • “These women needed late-term abortions—and they want
    Trump to know the truth.
    ” Maria Kabas, Splinter News,
    10/25/2016
  •  “No, Late-Term Abortions Don’t ‘Rip’ Babies Out Of Wombs
    — And They Exist For A Reason.
    ” Tara Haelle, Forbes,
    10/20/2016
  • “Late-Term Abortion Was the Right Choice for Me.”
    Meredith Isaksen, The New York Times, 10/20/2016
Polls:
  • “Trimesters Still Key to U.S. Abortion Views,”
    Gallup, 6/13/2018
  • “Millennials have a surprising view on later-term
    abortions
    ,” The Washington Post, 1/31/2018
  • “Americans’ Opinions on Abortion,” Marist
    Poll, January 2018
  • “Poll: Majority of Americans support 20-week abortion
    ban.
    ” CBS News, 7/25/2013
  • “Abortion Poll Finds Support For 20-Week Ban,”
    Huffington Post, 7/11/2013
  • “Majority of Americans Still Support Roe v. Wade
    Decision
    ,” Gallup, 1/22/2013
Data:
  • “State Bans on Abortion Throughout Pregnancy,”
    Guttmacher Institute, updated February 2020.
  • “Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and
    Qualitative Perspectives
    .” Finer, LB, Frohwirth LF, Dauphinee
    LA, Singh S, Moore AM. Perspectives of Sexual and Reproductive Health,
    2005 Sep; 37(3):110-8.
  • Abortion Reporting, Public Health
    Statistics, Arizona Department of Health Services; see Annual Reports
    2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2016.
  • “Who seeks abortion after 20 weeks?” Foster, DG, Kimport, Katrina. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2013; 45(4):210-218.
Interviews of late-term
abortion doctors:
  • “Interview with Dr. Susan Robinson, One of the Last Four
    Doctors in America to Openly Provide Third-Trimester Abortions
    ,”
    Jia Tolentino, The Hairpin, September 20, 2013
  • “Abortion is never, ever a casual decision.”
    Kate Holmquist, The Irish Times, 9/21/2013
  • “After 40 years in Boulder, abortion doctor Warren Hern
    is still at war.
    ” Alex Burness, The Daily Camera, 5/30/2015
Relevant
Secular Pro-Life posts:
  • “Master Post: 21+ week abortions usually aren’t medically necessary.” 2/26/2019
  • “The people want Roe to stay.” 9/25/2018
  • “No, most late-term abortions are not medically
    necessary.
    ” 10/20/2016
  • “Apparently protecting embryos is more extreme than
    severing babies’ spines.
    ” 5/31/2016
· 
Myth #3:
Abortion restrictions don’t stop abortions.
Articles:
  • “Want to lower the abortion rate? Support pro-choice
    policies.
    ” Jill Filipovic, The Guardian, 3/24/2018
  • “Abortion rates go down when countries make it legal:
    report.
    ” Maggie Fox, NBC News, 3/20/2018
  • “We Already Know How To Safely Reduce Abortions.”
    Anna Almendrala, Huffington Post, 2/14/2017
  • “A massive new study shows how to reduce abortions — and
    it’s not more regulation.
    ” Thom Dunn, Upworthy, 1/23/2017
  • “The abortion rate is at an all-time low — and better
    birth control is largely to thank.
    ” Emily Crockett, Vox,
    1/18/2017
Data
(Worldwide):
  • “Global, regional, and subregional trends in unintended pregnancy
    and its outcomes from 1990 to 2014: estimates from a Bayesian hierarchical
    model.
    ” Gilda Sedgh, et al. Lancet Glob Health. 2018 Apr; 6(4):
    e380–e389.
  • “Abortion incidence between 1990 and 2014: global,
    regional, and subregional levels and trends.
    ” Gilda Sedgh, et
    al. Lancet Global Health, 2016 July; Volume 388, Issue 10041, p258-267.
  • “A Global View of Abortion Rights.” The
    Center for Reproductive Rights. 2013.
  • “Abortion Worldwide: A Decade of Uneven Progress.”
    Susheela Singh, et al. Guttmacher Institute, 2009.
Data
(National):
  • “An Overview of Abortion Laws.” Guttmacher
    Institute, last updated August 1, 2018.
  • “Unintended Pregnancy Rates at the State Level:
    Estimates for 2010 and Trends Since 2002.
    ” Kathryn Kost,
    Guttmacher Institute, January 2015
  • “Abortion by State of Residence.” Guttmacher
    Institute, 2013.
American
studies:
  • “The Power of Abortion Policy: Reexamining the Effects
    of Young Women’s Access to Reproductive Control.
    ” Caitlin
    Knowles Myers, Journal of Political Economy, Volume 125, Number 6,
    December 2017.
  • “The Role of Restrictive Abortion Legislation in
    Explaining Variation in Oral Contraceptive Use.
    ” Felkey AJ and
    Lybecker KM, Clinics in Mother and Child Health, 12:200, October 29, 2015
  • “State Abortion Context and U.S. Women’s Contraceptive
    Choices, 1995–2010.
    ” Josephine Jacobs, Maria Stanfors.
    Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Volume 47, Issue 2, June
    2015, p71-82.
  • “Analyzing the Impact of U.S. Antiabortion Legislation
    in the Post-Casey Era: A Reassessment.
    ” Michael New, State
    Politics & Policy Quarterly, Volume 14, Issue 3, July 21, 2014
  •  “The Effect of Anti-Abortion Legislation on Nineteenth
    Century Fertility.
    ” Joanna N. Lahey. Demography. 2014 Jun;
    51(3): 939–948.
  • “Utilization of oral contraception: The impact of direct
    and indirect restrictions on access to abortion.
    ” Felkey AJ and
    Lybecker KM, The Social Science Journal, Volume 51, Issue 1, March 2014,
    p44-56.
  • “Restrictive abortion laws, antiabortion attitudes and
    women’s contraceptive use.
    ” Marshall Medoff, Social Science
    Research, Volume 41, Issue 1, January 2012, p160-169.
  • “Variation in Pill Use: Do Abortion Laws Matter?”
    Felkey, AJ, International Journal of Business and Social Science, Vol. 2
    No. 16; September 2011.
  • “Analyzing the Impact of U.S. Antiabortion Legislation
    in the Post-Casey Era.
    ” Michael New, State Politics &
    Policy Quarterly, Volume 11, Issue 1, February 15, 2011
  • “Abortion or Pill Access Is Associated with Lower
    Birthrates Among Minors.
    ” J. Thomas, Perspectives on Sexual and
    Reproductive Health, Volume 41, Issue 1, March 2009, p65-65
  • “Fertility Effects of Abortion and Birth Control Pill
    Access for Minors.
    ” Mealnie Guldi, Demography. 2008 Nov; 45(4):
    817–827
  • “Abortion
    as Insurance.
    ” Phillip B. Levine, Douglas Staiger. The National
    Bureau of Economic Research, NBER Working Paper No. 8813, February 2002
  • “Roe v Wade and American fertility.” P B
    Levine, D Staiger, T J Kane, and D J Zimmerman. Am J Public Health. 1999
    February; 89(2): 199–203.
  •  “The effects of economic conditions and access to reproductive health
    services on state abortion rates and birthrates.
    ” Matthews,
    Ribar D, Wilhelm M, Fam Plann Perspect. 1997 Mar-Apr;29(2):52-60
  • “The role of access in explaining state abortion rates.” Patricia Gober. Social
    Science & Medicine, Volume 44, Issue 7, April 1997, pp1003-1016
  • “The Effect of Medicaid Abortion Funding Restrictions on
    Abortions, Pregnancies, and Births.
    ” Phillip B. Levine, Amy B.
    Trainor, David J. Zimmerman, J Health Econ. 1996 Oct;15(5):555-78.
  • “The Impact Of Provider Availability On Abortion Demand.”
    Robert W. Brown, R. Todd Jewell, Contemporary Economic Policy, Volume 14,
    Issue 2, April 1996, pp95-106
  • “Trends in rates of live births and abortions following state
    restrictions on public funding of abortion.
    ” Korenbrot, Brindis
    C, Priddy F., Public Health Rep. 1990 Nov-Dec;105(6):555-62.
  • “The impact of restricting Medicaid financing for abortion.”
    Trussell J, Menken J, Lindheim BL, Vaughan B. Fam Plann Perspect. 1980
    May-Jun;12(3):120-3, 127-30.
Relevant
Secular Pro-Life posts:
  • “Pro-choice states have just as many unintended pregnancies, and far more abortions.” 9/11/2018
  • “Link collection: Evidence that pro-life laws mean fewer
    unplanned pregnancies.
    ” 7/31/2018
  • “More evidence that abortion restrictions decrease
    abortion rates.
    ” 7/25/2018
  • “Pro-life laws prevent abortion primarily by preventing
    unplanned pregnancy.
    ” 7/20/2018
  • “Which decreases abortion rates more: contraception
    access or abortion restrictions?
    ” 7/2/2018
  • “International ‘unsafe abortion’ studies are highly flawed.” 1/10/2018
  • “Pro-life laws stop abortions. Here’s the evidence.”
    8/9/2017

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https://secularprolife.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SecularProlife2.png 0 0 Monica Snyder https://secularprolife.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SecularProlife2.png Monica Snyder2020-02-29 10:58:002021-11-08 12:15:02Sources for “Deconstructing Three Pro-Choice Myths”
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